Bad weather may crash the NIU Observatory’s lunar crash party.

A NASA spacecraft known as LCROSS is scheduled to crash a launch rocket into a lunar crater. The crash is supposed to throw debris, along with potential water ice and vapor, above the lunar surface.

From Earth, the impact should be visible for several seconds. The observatory will host a watch party open to the public from 5 to 7 a.m. Friday.

Unfortunately for NIU, staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said, the skies will not be clear.
“Friday morning, no way. It will be too cloudy unfortunately,” Sebenste said, adding that a big cold front will be in the area, generating clouds, wind and rain.

Observatory manager Matt Wiesner told NIU Public Affairs that, “in case of clouds or rain, we will still meet at the same time to watch the crash via NASA TV.”

According to NASA’s Web site, the live broadcast at 5:15 a.m. will include footage from space, as well as possible coverage of the crash from the University of Hawaii, which has an 88-inch telescope on Mauna Kea.

Sebenste expressed empathy for the observatory’s event, but he did not give much hope for a live viewing.

“It would be nice to see, but it won’t be one of those days,” he said.

Calls made to Wiesner were not returned.

GO ONLINE:
Watch the lunar impact as it happens at www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html.

HOW TO GET TO THE OBSERVATORY:

Take the Davis Hall elevator up to the 5th floor, go left to the end of the hallway, go right to the end of the following hallway and through the door, where you will find a staircase. Follow the signs up the staircase to Room 703.

Source: www.niu.edu/physics/observatory/index.shtml

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